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A pair of Australian females and four youngsters have managed to break out of a detention facility in Syria and made their own way back to Victoria, while demands increase on the Australian government to bring back its citizens.

Their Route to Freedom

This group of two adults and four minors – with identities kept confidential – escaped from the infamous Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria, travelling more than 500km to enter Lebanon, where they secured Australian documents in Beirut.

They underwent identity and security screenings in Beirut, before travelling to Australia by a commercial flight recently.

Australian Nationals Held in Syria

There are about 40 Australians – the majority being minors – detained in camps in northern Syria. They are the wives, widows and children of deceased or imprisoned Islamic State fighters.

Roughly thirty-four Australians – fourteen women and twenty children – have been detained at the Roj facility near the border with Turkey, most since 2019. Some of the children were born within the camp, and have never experienced life beyond its confines. A fewer of Australian citizens are understood to have been held in the Al-Hol detention camp closer to Iraq.

Not a single detainee has, at this point, been charged with a crime or is subject to an arrest warrant.

Dangers of Self-Repatriation

Informed sources say the informal and ad hoc escape to Lebanon put the children at risk and that the females were detained in Lebanon when attempting to cross the frontier. These observers contend that official and managed returns are far safer, allowing for support services to be put in place for those coming back, and for security services in the country to be prepared for the returns.

Situation in the Camps

The situation in Syrian detention facilities are dire, with extensive malnutrition, disease and violent incidents. A recently published analysis described a “volatile security” situation and a “public health crisis”.

“Facilities in the camps are inadequate and overwhelmed and housing insufficient, with flooding and fires making life hazardous. Young detainees experience serious psychological trauma and psychological issues and psychological treatment is inadequate. Numerous minors in the camp have no relatives, making them particularly vulnerable to radicalisation and recruitment.”

Advocacy groups describe conditions in the camps as “life-threatening”. The Al-Hol facility, holding 30,000 people – over fifty percent being minors – is regarded as notably unstable and dangerous.

Government Repatriation Efforts

Over an extended period, the national government has been under increasing pressure from families, lawyers, and advocacy groups to repatriate its citizens. The authorities have conducted two limited repatriations: in 2019, eight children without parents, including a pregnant teenager, were returned to New South Wales, and in October 2022, four women and 13 children were brought back, also to NSW.

A legal action in federal court to compel the government to return its citizens failed, with the judges ruling there was no statutory requirement on the government.

However, the full bench of the court did find: “should the government demonstrate the determination to bring the … women and children back to Australia, based on available information, it would be a fairly simple process”.

International Context

The US, which funds the bulk of security operations across north-east Syria, urges nations such as Australia to repatriate their nationals, and is even offering to help repatriate third-country nationals.

A report to Congress argued: “the only durable solution to the acute humanitarian and security challenges in the detention centers and displaced persons camps is returning people to their home countries. This explains why the US urges all countries to bring back their citizens from northeastern Syria.”

Government Response

An official representative said Syria was becoming “increasingly unstable”.

“The Australian government is not providing assistance and is not conducting repatriations in camps in Syria.

“If any of those people manage to return independently, our law enforcement bodies are confident in their readiness and will be able to act in the interests of community safety.”

The spokesperson said Australian agencies had “kept these people under observation for an extended period”.

“We trust our institutions.

“Our travel warnings continues to advise Australians do not travel to Syria due to the hazardous conditions and risk of violence.”

Local Law Enforcement Readiness

A police representative said authorities knew nationals in Syrian facilities may look to return home.

“Where required, Victoria Police works closely with local and national authorities to assist with the reintegration of females and minors who come back to the state from camps in Syria.”